"The Stolen Party" and Other Stories Lesson Plan

In "Jocasta," what effect is achieved by exploring the mind of an abuser? Is Nora humanized? Are you able to feel any compassion or understanding for her, or do you experience an urge to distance yourself from her entirely? What techniques does Heker use to trigger specific emotions in her readers and/or achieve a certain aesthetic?

Students may comment not only on this interesting and challenging (both from the perspective of the writer and the reader) choice of point of view, but also on the wide range of perspectives in Heker's stories (little girls, young men, actresses, servants, mothers, computer programmers, and children, for example). They might also break down...